Hello all, I am a frantically overworked fourth-grade teacher struggling to carve out a moment to propose a question:
Does any kit of a late-war Russian T-44 exist in 1:35 scale, or are there any conversion kits available to modify a T-54 or T-55 instead?

I am interested in replicating an early T-44 in a hypothetical scene, deployed for test in combat on the Ostfront. I also wish to build a later T-44M as they were updated for reserve and training in the '50s.

Thanks, all! Now - back to the 26-student meatgrinder! Today, I fully expect the reenactment of "Operation Bagration" in my classroom!

Adam

God Bless the teachers!!!!

Adam, Accurate Armour makes a full resin kit of the T-44 T-44 . Converting it to a T54 would be difficult to say the least. You would need a new turret, fittings, hatches, outboard mg casemates etc...

The AA kit isn't cheap and I ve heard its less than great........

Chris

Thanks, Chris!

Pretty much what I expected - tons of T-54/T-55's out there, but the series "progenitor"?

Not so much!

Adam

Adam,
If you are really brave, there are 2 other T-44 kits/conversion out there. First is from AEF Designs. I've never seen it, but it is less expensive (at US$75) than the Accurate Armour kit. AEF Designs stuff ranges from horrifying to pretty good, depending on how busy they are when you order and, as always, who made the master. Second is a real toughy and I've never seen one at all. The company that made it was called Navigator from Russia. They had some awesome subjects (like an IS-4 which I do have), but the casting is crude (READ: it's going to need LOTS of love) and they were nearly impossible to find when they were operating. Now, it'll probably be easier to find the Lindberg baby, Judge Crader and Jimmy Hoffa in the same afternoon!
Currently, I'm building the Accurate Armour T-44. It's not too terrible, although some of the smaller pieces do suffer from bubbles. I've re-engineered the suspension to take the DML T-34/85 wheels and have scoured a bunch of Trumpeter T-55 kits for the fender stowage. From what I've seen in photos, no 2 vehicles were the same, due to the fact that only about 200 were built and they were rebuilt a bunch of times. You may want to check out this goldmine of a site called Narod Ru. It's got about a million walk-around pics of mainly Russian equipment in various places in the former Soviet Union. I hope that helps. If you want/need any more info, feel free to PM me.
Regards,
Georg

Yeah, be warned about the AEF T-44 kit. I have two of them and I still don't have all the parts that are supposed to be included in one kit. Most of the parts I DO have are okay for rough guides to scratchbuild from.
I also have a T34-85, SU-85,and T-54 styrene kits to scavenge parts from for the T-44 build.

I have thrown away all the other AEF kits I've ever acquired and will never buy, accept for free, or trade for another one. They are that bad. You can never get parts (or an answer) from the company owner.
I keep my T-44 kit for two reasons - I want to build a T-44, and I open it periodically to remind me never to buy another AEF kit again!

On my salary (elementary teacher) I'll stick with my basic plan, shop around for a decent T-55 and some T-34/85 stuff, chop & slice the turret and hull, see what happens.

I appreciate the ideas, everyone!

Adam